This article originally appeared on LinkedIn.
We have much to do when it comes to diversity and inclusion; really, we’re just getting started on this journey. Yet positive change is happening across our organization. We can take some pride in the fact that we are working to build a more diverse workforce, creating mechanisms that ensure every employee feels a sense of inclusion, and offering tools to those in positions of privilege who desire to be stronger allies of those who are not.
But I also recognize that it’s not enough to simply focus on what happens within our walls. Over the past year, racism against people of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) heritage has spiked. While racism against AAPI, unfortunately, is nothing new, this spike has been driven largely by misinformation surrounding COVID-19. To me, this underscores the importance of what we are doing internally to empower employees to be aware of these issues and grow when it comes to diversity and inclusion.
Empowering and supporting employees
I’ve written about these efforts in a past article, but they are worth mentioning again. Avery Dennison employees can access a wide variety of resources, including formal programs, sessions customized to the needs of a team, individual learning modules, toolkits, and on-demand microlearning. And we are always looking to add to this list.
We also offer learning tools designed to help our employees become better allies. These tools foster an inclusive mindset based on the principles of being brave, being humble, and being dedicated. They’re designed to help employees not simply be reactive when they might witness an incident themselves, but be proactive agents for positive change in the community.
Lastly, our Northeast Ohio Chinese Association is one of our six employee resource groups (ERGs). It’s dedicated to promoting the Chinese culture, and to enhancing multicultural exchange and mutual understanding to support career growth for new and visiting employees of Chinese origin.
A force for positive change
Diversity and inclusion at Avery Dennison is a journey — and we are really just getting underway. Part of that journey includes all of us being aware of what is happening not only within our company but across our communities. We are committed to being a force for positive change on both fronts.
Learn more about our Diversity and Inclusion efforts here.
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